Ink container



May 14, 1946. L. PETERS INK CONTAINER Filed Sept. 1a, 1944 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 00 0 Ill May 14, 1946. L, PETERS 2,400,209

INK CONTAINER Filed Sept. 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 14,1946

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INK CONTAINER Leo Peters, Evanston, Ill.

Application September 16, 1944, Serial No. 554,360

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an ink container, and

more particularly to a container in which the point of a, writing pen may be supported in any of a plurality of diiferent vertical positions.

In ink containers, the ink is ordinarily filled into a glass bottle in which the ink is sold and which is also used for the filling of fountain pens or for the placing of a straight pen in the ink in order to use the ink in the bottle. The ink bottle, therefore, serves the dual purpose of providing a package in which the ink may be sold and a container from which the ink may be withdrawn as it is used. One of the problems of such containers, however, lies in the fact that when a fountain pen is filled or a straight pen placed in the ink, the body of the pen may be smeared with ink if the pen is inserted in the ink to a point where the liquid ink is brought into contact with the body of the pen. When there is nothing to limit the depth of insertion of the point of a pen, or where the distance from the surface to a resting place below the surface is uncertain, it is diflicult for the user to avoid at least occasionally submerging the pen to too great a. depth.

Numerous efforts have been made to eliminate and avoid this problem. In one type of construction, the ink container is provided with a compartment in the upper portion thereof, and this compartment may be filled with ink by tipping the container while the closure for the container is in position. The pen may then be dipped into. the ink in the compartment. This construction has the disadvantage that if the closure is loosely attached, ink may spill in the tipping operation and, moreover, it is necessary at regular intervals to refill the compartment by tipping the bottle.

Another means of handling this problem is to pour the ink from the container into an inkwell in which the ink may be maintained by any of various means at a constant level within the well. However, this does not permit the using of the ink by withdrawing it with a pen from the original package or container in which it is sold.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container in which the point of a pen may :be supported at any desired vertical position while at the same time permitting free circulation of the ink within the container. With such a container, the point of the pen is merely inserted into the ink to the desired vertical depth and is supported at this depth. The body of the pen, therefore, does not come in contact with the ink nor become smeared with ink. Another obiect is to provide a container equipped with a plurality of vertically-spaced supports in which the supports are readily visible in the container regardless of the level of ink therein. The supports may be uniformly arranged so that the user can readily ascertain the location of the support which is at the des red depth within the ink. Still another object is to provide a conalner in which the ink readily drains from the supports so that as ink is used and the liquid level of ink within the container is lowered, ink does not accumulate-on the s pp rts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device in the form of an insert for a container which provides a plurality of vertically-spaced supports for a penpoint. A further object is to provide means for securing the insert tightly and firmly in position within the container. Still another object isto provide aconstruction which makes it possible to utilize substantially all of the ink in the bottle without resorting to tipping of the bottle.

Other features and advantages will appear from the following specification and drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ink container showing a supporting device for insertion therein; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the container with the insert in position therein; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the insert alone, a portion of the insert being shown in elevation; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of' a. modified form of the invention; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing a portion of the wall of the insert; and Fig, 6 is a plan view of the container with the insert in position therein.

The present invention contemplates a container for ink in which is provided a plurality of vertically-spaced supports for the point of a pen. The supports extend from the upper por tion of the container above the highest possible level of ink therein to the bottom or substantially to the bottom of the container. The supports may be substantially uniformly arranged, and 45 preferably extend to all sides of the container.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the ink container l0 may be of any suitable or desired construction, and is preferably formed of glass or other transparent material. By reference herein to an ink container is meant a container provided with a removable closure in which the ink may be packaged, sold, and used.

As illustrated, the ink container I0 is preferably provided with an open mouth ll centrally 55 disposed at the upper portion thereof with a neck l2 and with a substantially cylindrical side wall IS. The neck of the container, as in conventional ink bottles, may be provided with threads I for receiving a removable threaded closure or can (not shown) The bottom wall l5 of the container in may be thicker than the other walls of the container,

as illustrated, and may be equipped with a recess I6 in the central portion thereof. The upper surface I! of the bottom wall of the container in is preferably inclined radially inwardly toward the recess l 6.

The insert l8 may be of any suitable material, such, for example, as a plastic or resinous material. The insert IB is preferably in the shape of an inverted frustum of a cone. The upper end of the insert is open and should be of a size corresponding to the open mouth ll of the bottle Ill. The lower end 20 is also open so as to provide communication between the interior of the insert and the recess H3 in the bottom of the container.

upper portion of the insert extending above the level 28 of the liquid within the bottle. The insert is firmly fixed in position by engagement of the lower end 20, with the recess I 6 and by engagement between the lugs 26 and the lugs 27. The conventional closure may be placed over the open mouth H of the container and the container is ready for sale and use.

When the ink is to be used, the closure is removed from the container and a pen, such as the pen 29, is placed therein. The pen is lowered into the ink within the container until the point 30 of the pen is submerged to the desired depth. Ai

, this time the lower end of the penpoint 30 is The wall 2! extends downwardly and radiallyinwardly from the upper end l9 to the lower end 20 and is preferably substantially flat or straight in vertical section.

A plurality of small apertures 22 in the wall 2| permit the free circulation of ink through the insert and provide at the same time supports for the point of a pen. Preferably, as illustrated, the lower wall of each of the apertures 22 is inclined downwardly so as to permit ink to drain therefrom and at the same time to provide a desirable support for the point of a pen. The angle'of the walls of the apertures 22 may be, as illustrated, in the neighborhood of 20 with respect to the vertical or at any other suitable angle. Preferably, the angle of disposition of the walls of theapertures 22 is approximately the same as the angle at which the pen to be inserted in the container is likely to be disposed.

The insert 18 should be mounted in the container l0 in such a manner as to provide a firm tight flt for the insert and so that the insert is rigidly supported within the container. The lower end 20 of the insert should be of a size slightly less than that of the recess l6 so that the end 26 of the insert may be received within the recess I6. Preferably, the walls of the recess 16 are inclined at about the same angle as the walls of the insert l8 so that when the insert is placed in position, it will fit tightly against the walls of the recess. The upper portion ii! of the insert may be provided with a vertically-disposed wall 23, an outwardly-extending flange 24, and an upwardly-extending fiange 25, the flange 25 being adapted to be tightly received against the inner surface of the neck l2 of the container. Lugs 26 may be mounted on the wall 23 and extend downwardly therefrom. Preferably, each of the lugs 26 is inclined downwardly at a slight angle. The neck 12 of the container may be provided with lugs 21 which are adapted to engage and interlock with the lugs 26. The lugs 21 may also be inclined downwardly at a slight angle in the peripheral direction. When the insert is placed in position, the lugs 26 are brought under the lugs 21 and the insert is then rotated. By reason of the inclination of the lugs 26 and 21, the insert is pressed downwardly into tight engagement with the bottom of the container and thus held tightly and firmly in position therein.

brought into engagement with one of the apertures 22 and supported by the walls thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Ink may then be drawn intothe pen if it is a fountain pen or received upon the penpoint if it is a straight pen. In this operation, no ink touches the barrel of the pen and the barrel or body of the pen does not become smeared with ink.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the container 3| is substantially the same as the container [0 and is provided with an open mouth 32 and a neck 33. The bottom wall 34 is equipped with arecess 35 corresponding to the recess I 6 in the other embodiment of the invention. The insert 36 is also similar to the insert l8 and is in the shape of an inverted frustum of a cone and provided with an open lower end 31 and an open upper end 38. Lugs 39 on the insert interlock with lugs 40 on the neck 33 of the container in the same manner as in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

The insert 36 may be equipped with an inwardly and upwardly-extending projection 4| which is in the form of a spiral extending about the inner surface of the insert 36. The spiral projection 4| preferably extends from the upper portion 38 of the insert to the lower end 31 thereof and may be continuous as illustrated. As seen particularly in Fig. 5, the wall of the insert 36 may be provided with a plurality of apertures 42 at spaced portions thereof. Preferably, the apertures are disposed in a plurality of sides of the insert and at each level of the spiral projection II.

In use, the point 43 of a pen K4 is placed in the container 3|, with the point received at a suitable level on the spiral projection. Preferably, the point is also received in one of the apertures 42. The pen may readily be filled with ink without permitting the barrel or body of the pen to come in contact with the ink within the container.

With the present invention, the supports for the point of the pen are readily visible to the user of the ink, even though the bottle is substantially filled; The supports extend above the liquid level of the ink at all times and are thus instantaneously visible. In addition to the visibility of the device, the straightness of the walls of the insert in the vertical plane and the substantially uniform spacing of the apertures or supports permit the user to readily determine the approximate location of the support which is to receive the point of the pen. Since the supports extend entirely around the surface of the insert, the pen may be placed on any side of the device. At the same time, because the supports are so numerous and are substantially uniformly spaced over the surface of the insert, free and ready circulation of the ink within the bottle is possible. As the level of the ink is lowered within the container,

any ink which is on the lower walls of the apertures 22 readily drains therefrom. Similarly, in the case of the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 6, as the level of the ink is lowered within the container, the ink drains along the spiral projection and through the apertures 42.

When the level of the ink within the container approaches the bottom of the container, the ink drains into the recess I6 and it is possible to substantially completely remove all of the ink from the container by inserting the point of the pen through the openbottom of the insert into the recess l6 or the corresponding recess 35.

Although the invention has been described in connection .with certain specific embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim? Y 1. In combination, an ink container having a central opening in the upper portion thereof adapted to receive a removable closure said container being adapted to hold liquid at a variable liquid level therein and being provided with a recess in the upper surfaceofthe central portion of the bottom of the container, and an annular wall within the container and beneath and in alignment with said opening extending from the upper portion of the container above the liquid level therein to the lower portion of the container, said wall being inclined downwardly and radially inwardly within the container without intercepting the vertical axis thereof and having openings providing communication with the interior of the container below and above said liquid level, the wall being open at the bottom thereof whereby the bottom surface of the container including said recess is exposed, and provided with a plurality of vertically-spaced supports for the point of a writing pen inserted in the container, said supports being arranged to extend on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the container.

2. In combination, an ink container having a central opening in the upper portion thereof adapted to receive a removable closure and adapted to hold liquid therein at a variable liquid level and provided with a recess in the upper surface of the central portion of the bottom of the container, and an annular member within the container and beneath and in alignment with said opening extending from the upper portion of the container above the liquid level therein to the lower portion of the container, said member being inclined downwardly and radially inwardly within the container without intercepting the vertical axis of the container and being open at the bottom thereof whereby the bottom surface of the container including said recess is exposed, said member being provided with a plurality of apertures through the wall thereof, said apertures being spaced apart and disposed vertically over substantially the entire surface height of the member whereby ink within the container circulates freely through and around said member and throughout the container, the wall of each of said apertures providing a support for the point of a writing pen inserted in said container.

3. In combination, an ink container having an opening in the the upper portion thereof and adapted to receive liquid therein at a variable liquid level and provided with a recess in the upper surface of the central portion of the bottom of the container, and an annular member within the container extending from the upper portion of the container above the liquid level therein to the lower portion of the container, the walls of the member in vertical section being inclined inwardly and downwardly, said member being open at the bottom thereof whereby the bottom surface of the container including said recess is exposed, and provided with a plurality of apertures through the wall thereof, said apertures being spaced apart and disposed over substantially the entire surface of said member whereby ink within said container circulates freely through said member and throughout the container, the walls of said apertures providing supports for the point of a writing pen inserted in said container.

4..In combination, an ink container having an opening in the upper portion thereof and a recess in the lower portion thereof and adapted to hold liquid therein at a variableliquid level and provided with a recess in the central por* tion of the upper surface of the bottom of the container, said upper surface of the bottom of the bottle about the recess being inclined downwardly toward the recess, a member of the shape of the surface of the frustum of an inverted cone and disposed within said bottle with the conical axis being centrally and vertically disposed within the container, said member extending from the upper portion of the container and above the liquid level therein to the lower portion of the container and having the walls thereof in vertical section inclined inwardly and downwardly, the member being open at the bottom above said recess and below the opening in the container whereby said recess is exposed, and being provided with a plurality of apertures through the walls thereof, said apertures being substantially uniformly spaced over the entire surface of the member below a portion thereof immediately above said liquid level within the container whereby ink may circulate freely through said member and in the container, the lower wall of each of said apertures being inclined outwardly and downwardly and providing a support of the point of a writing pen, and means for firmly supporting said member within the container.

5. In an ink container having an opening in the upper portion thereof and adapted to receive liquid therein at a variable level, an annular member within the container extending from the upper portion of the container to the lower portion of the container, the walls of said 7 member in vertical section being inclined inwardly and downwardly, said member being open at the bottom whereby a portion of the bottom of the container is exposed and provided with a plurality of apertures through the walls thereof, the apertures being spaced over substantially the entire surface of the member whereby ink may circulate freely through said member and in the container, the lower wall of each of said apertures being inclined downwardly and outwardly and providing a support for the point of a writing pen.

6. An ink container comprising a container having ,an opening in the upper portion thereof and adapted to hold liquid therein at a variable liquid level, a bottom wall for said container provided with a recess in the central portion of the upper surface thereof, said recess being disposed beneath said opening. the upper surface of said bottom wall about said recess being inclined downwardly toward the recess, a member in the shape of the surface of the frustum of an inverted cone disposed within the container with the conical axis centrally and vertically disposed, the open upper end of said member being received in the opening in the container and above the liquid level in the container and the open lower end of the member being disposed above the recess in the bottom of the container, said member being provided with a plurality of apertures closely and substantially uniformly spaced over the surface thereof and extending through the member whereby ink within the container may circulate freely through the member and within the container, the lower wall of each of said apertures being inclined downwardly and outwardly and providing a support for the point of a writing pen, and means for firmly supporting said member within the container.

7. In combination, an ink container having a central opening in the upper portion thereof and adapted to hold at a variable liquid level therein and provided with a recess in the upper surface of the central portion of the bottom of the container, and an annular wall within the container and beneath and in alignment with said opening extending from the upper portion of the container to the lower portion of the container, the inner surface of the wall being substantially in the shape of the frustum of an inverted cone and extending downwardly and radially inwardly within the container, said wall being open at its bottom whereby the bottom surface of the container including said recess is exposed and being equipped with a continuous spiral projection extending inwardly from the inner surface of the wall and providing a support for the point of a writing pen inserted in the container, said spiral projection extending from the upper portion to the lower portion of the inner surface of said wall, said wall being provided with a plurality of vertically spaced apertures therein.

8. In combination, an ink container having a central opening in the upper portion thereof and adapted to hold liquid at a variable liquid level therein, and a wall within the container beneath and in alignment with said opening extending from the upper portion of the container above the liquid level therein to the lower portion of the container, said wall being inclined downwardly and radially inwardly within the container without intercepting the vertical axis thereof, and being provided with a plurality of vertically-spaced supports for the point of a writing pen inserted in the container, said supports being arranged to extend on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the container, said wall being provided with perforations adjacent said supports establishing communication between the container and the inner space within said wall.

9. In combination, an ink container having a central opening in the upper portion thereof and having its bottom wall provided with a central drain pocket, and a frusto-conical wall within the container beneath and in alignment with said opening extending from said opening and with its reduced end received within said drain pocket of the bottom wall of the container, said wall being provided vertically with perforations establishing communication between the areas on either side of said wall.

10. In combination, an ink container having a central opening in the upper portion thereof, and an annular inclined wall within the container beneath and in alignment with said opening extending from the upper portion of the container to the lower wall thereof, said wall being inclined downwardly and radially inwardly within the container without intercepting the vertical axis thereof and being provided with verticallyspaced supports and with perforations extending through the wall adjacent said supports, said perforations extending substantially the length of the wall.

11. In combination, an ink container having a central opening in the upper portion thereof, a tubular member having its walls inclined downwardly and radially inwardly, said member extending substantially from the upper portion of the container to the bottom wall thereof, said wall having openings therein establishing communication between the inner and outer sides of said wall and extending substantially the length of said tubular member.

LEO PETERS. 

